Maserati Alfieri Concept Draws from the Brand's Past

We may be just as (if not more) used to the idea of Maserati making four-door passenger cars as we are of Porsche or Aston Martin doing the same, but the Trident marque is no less routed in producing sports cars than its German and British rivals. The trouble is that, now seven years on the market, the GranTurismo is Maserati's only two-door model, and it's growing a little long in the tooth to serve as the brand's halo car. Especially when it starts looking back at its history on the occasion of its 100th anniversary. So to mark the milestone, and reconnect with its more sporting past, Maserati has rolled in to Geneva with the concept car you see here.

From Article"It takes the form of a slick 2+2 that's "sportier in character than the GranTurismo," ... Its wheelbase is 9.5 inches shorter than the GranTurismo, but packs the same 4.7-liter naturally-aspirated V8 (not one of the newer turbocharged units) driving 460 horsepower through a six-speed sequential gearbox..."

While I understand the reasoning of chopping the wheelbase into a 2+2 to be like everyone else, or 2-seater with a purely aesthetic rear seats, I wish they hadn't. The Maserati GranTurismo was the only coupe available you could actually have friends ride in comfortably for short trips or load a week's worth of luggage for road trips. What's great to hear is they may carry over the 4.7L V8 with its instantaneous NA response, planning for the Sport's power, tranny and that keeping that luscious, snarling soundtrack.

I say "planning for the (GranTurismo) Sport's power" because the 4.7L shared Maserati/Ferrari engine should easily be tunable to well over 500Hp if they wanted. A 4.5L version produces nearly 600Hp in the 458, a 4.3L over 480Hp in the California and 500Hp in the old 430 Scuderia.

Contrary to the article's claim, the GranTurismo still had abundant "sporty character" even without the MC Stradale compromised 2-seater. It was a GT car in the truest sense with an exceptionally attractive front end, beautifully proportioned with long curves, crisp lines and a presence no Ferrari has ever had. IMO, it was the perfect GT.

Ferrari revealed a 3.9L California turbo. With around 550Hp and ft-lb it should allow Maserati to boost the output of its 4.7L to well over 500Hp. Why you may ask?Words been Ferrari, being as pretentious as its buyers, doesn't want any competition from its sibling brands and wants the most powerful output available. This put the crimps on the SRT Viper out-muscling the F12 (which it could easily do) and Maserati GranTurismo out-muscling the California. With the Cali getting a Quattroporte engine (don't tell the Hollywood buyers) this ride could see another 70Hp without ruffling their Dressage Braids.